Study Compares Bronchodilatory Effects of Symbicort and Advair in
Adults With Asthma

WILMINGTON, Del., March 18, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data
from a new study demonstrated that the combination asthma
maintenance therapy, SYMBICORT(R) (budesonide/formoterol fumarate
dihydrate), provided greater and faster bronchodilatory effects, or
opening of the airways, compared with Advair (fluticasone
propionate/salmeterol) in adults with mild to moderate asthma. In
addition, these data demonstrated that SYMBICORT provided a similar
bronchodilatory response to albuterol. Bronchodilatory response is
defined as the mean time to achieve improvement in lung function.
The results from the two studies were presented at the American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting held in
Philadelphia, March 14-18, 2008.

"SYMBICORT is a combination of two proven asthma medications -
budesonide and formoterol. It reduces inflammation experienced on a
chronic basis to help patients breathe easier and offers fast
action, dose after dose, for bronchodilation (or opening of the
lungs)," said lead investigator Frank C. Hampel, Jr., MD, Central
Texas Health Research, New Braunfels, Texas.

In both studies, bronchodilatory response was measured by the
mean improvements in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)
- how much air a person can exhale during a forced breath in the
first second of exhalation, which is a measure of airway function
and can be reduced with airway obstruction. Assessments were made
at multiple time points over 12 hours including those at three
minutes and 15 minutes after the medication was taken.

"SYMBICORT works quickly to improve airflow within 15 minutes,
helping patients to breathe better throughout the day and night,"
said Philip Silkoff, MD, Medical Science, AstraZeneca. "It's
important for patients, whose doctors have prescribed a daily
maintenance medication to control inflammation, to take their
medicine because even though they are symptom-free, they're not
asthma-free. Asthma never goes away."

In both studies, results showed that mean improvements in FEV1
at three minutes postdose were significantly greater with SYMBICORT
and albuterol pMDI compared to fluticasone propionate/salmeterol
DPI (P<.001). At the same time, all active treatments resulted
in significantly greater FEV1 at three minutes postdose compared to
placebo (P less than or equal to .029). In addition, significantly
(P<.001) more patients (combined studies) achieved greater than
or equal to 15 percent and greater than or equal to 12 percent
improvements in FEV1 within 15 minutes postdose with SYMBICORT and
albuterol pMDI versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol DPI. All
treatments were well tolerated.

About SYMBICORT

SYMBICORT is a combination therapy indicated for the long-term
maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 12 years of age and
older. Administered twice daily SYMBICORT is a combination of
budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), and formoterol, a
rapid and long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA). SYMBICORT does not
replace fast-acting inhalers and should not be used to treat acute
symptoms of asthma. SYMBICORT has safety data in long-term studies
of up to one year, and has a robust cardiac safety profile.

Important Safety Information

Long acting beta2-adrenergic agonists may increase the risk of
asthma- related death. Therefore, when treating patients with
asthma, SYMBICORT should only be used for patients not adequately
controlled on other asthma-controller medications (e.g.,
low-to-medium dose inhaled corticosteroids) or whose disease
severity clearly warrants initiation of treatment with two
maintenance therapies. Data from a large placebo-controlled U.S.
study compared the safety of another long-acting beta2-adrenergic
agonist (salmeterol) or placebo added to usual asthma therapy
showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving
salmeterol. This finding with salmeterol may apply to formoterol (a
long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist), one of the active
ingredients in SYMBICORT.

SYMBICORT is not indicated for the relief of acute
bronchospasm.

SYMBICORT should not be initiated in patients during rapidly
deteriorating or potentially life-threatening episodes of
asthma.

Particular care is needed for patients who are transferred from
systemically active corticosteroids. Deaths due to adrenal
insufficiency have occurred in asthmatic patients during and after
transfer from systemic corticosteroids to less systemically
available inhaled corticosteroids.

Patients who are receiving SYMBICORT twice daily should not use
additional formoterol or other long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists
for any reason.

Common adverse events reported in clinical trials, occurring in
greater than or equal to 5 percent of patients, regardless of
relationship to treatment, including nasopharyngitis, headache,
upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngolaryngeal pain,
sinusitis, and stomach discomfort.

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged
in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of
meaningful prescription medicines and supplier for healthcare
services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical
companies with healthcare sales of $29.55 billion and is a leader
in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory,
oncology and infectious disease medicines. In the United States,
AstraZeneca is a $13.35 billion dollar healthcare business with
12,200 employees committed to improving people's lives. AstraZeneca
is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as
the FTSE4Good Index.

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